How parent coping style may affect depression in transition-aged young adults with an autism spectrum disorder

Introduction: Young adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience higher rates of depression than their typically developing peers (Hudson et al., 2019). Extant research suggests that parental depression is a risk factor for adverse behavioral and emotional outcomes among children with ASD (Benson, 2006; Davis & Carter, 2008). Yet, to our knowledge, only one study has examined these associations in autism samples that has reached adolescence or adulthood (Baker et al., 2014). The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between parent and son/daughter depressive symptoms among adolescents/young adults with ASD, as well as whether that relationship is influenced by parent coping styles.  

Methods: Data for this study were taken from the baseline of a randomized controlled trial investigating a parent advocacy intervention. Participants included 185 parents of youth with ASD ages 16-26. The mean age of parent participants was 52.0 years, ranging from 37.3 to 72.0. Parents identified primarily as female (n=166, 89.7%). The mean age of the youth with ASD was 20.4 years. Youth primarily identified as male (n=138, 74.6%). Parental depression was measured using the depression subscale of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). Youth depression was measured via parent-report using the depression subscale of the Adult Behavior Checklist (ABCL) or the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (depending on the age of the participant). Parents filled out the COPE inventory to determine coping styles employed in stressful situations.  

Results: A significant, moderate correlation was identified between parent and child depression (r = .26, p < .001). The coping methods most employed by parents were planning, positive growth, and active coping. Those least common coping methods were substance use, denial, and behavioral disengagement. Two coping mechanisms significantly moderated the relationship between parental depression and son/daughter depression, substance use, and denial; p = .016 and p = .038 respectively for the interaction effects. For both cases, the presence of the coping style (i.e., substance use or use of denial) weakened the association between parental and youth depression.  

Discussion: We found a moderate correlation between parent and child depression in this sample. The relationship appears to weaken when moderated by substance use as parental coping mechanisms and is removed altogether when denial is used. These coping mechanisms were rarely used by parents in this sample, but these findings provide evidence that they might be particularly harmful when used.